Apparatus for the separation of dry materials



March 12, 1929.

H. SUTTON ET AL APPARATUS FOR THE SEPARATION OF DRY MATERIALS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 6, 1923 March 12, 1929. H, M, SUTTON ET AL 1,705,342

APPARATUS FOR THE SEPARATION OF DRY MATERIALS Filed June 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 314416441506 N 1, W A. 5 {ma Patented Mar. 12 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY M. SUTTON, WALTER LIVINGSTDN STEELE, AND EDWIN GOODWIN STEELE, OF

DALLAS, TEXAS.

APPARATUS FOR THE SEPARATION OF DRY MATERIALS.

Application filed June 6,

This invention has relation to certain improvements in apparatus for the separation of dry materials, and the particlar improvement is in the feeding device for the Y-type of apparatus which is shown, described and claimed in our co-pending application Serial No. 530,357, which was filed January 19th, 1922.

In our said co-pending application, the feed pan extends across the feed end and feeds the material directly to the separating deck, the material. being fed being spread in a stream which extends cross-wise the deck,whereby much of the heavier particles of the mass must, in the operation of the apparatus, find their way to the center of the deck where they are concentrated.

One object of the present invention is to feed all of the material to the center of the separating deck construction, whereby the heavier materials of the mass remain at the center, and all the lighter materials are forced in operation over all of the rifiies in order to arrive at the discharge edges of the deck.

A further object of the present invention is to turn the cross-wise feed of the mass into a center stream which is fed to the center of the separating deck and delivered thereto in a stream extending longitudinal the deck, whereby the heavier particles remain in the center of the deck which forces the lighter particles over all. of the riitles in order to arrive at the discharge edges of the deck.

Another object of the invention is to provide an extension for the feed pan shown in the said application, whereby in operation the material after being fed cross-wise of the table is concentrated in the center of the table from opposite directions and delivered directly to the center of the deck in a stream extending longitudinal of it and the lighter particles are forced laterally, in opposite directions from the center of the deck over all of the riflles in order to arrive at the discharge edges of the table.

Another object of our present improvement is to provide means for separating from a mass a desired element of which there is vnot a sufiicient quantity to form a banking concentrate for both of the arms of the table, by providing an adjustable member whereby the material can be directed to either arm,

1923. Serial No. 643,709.

thus constituting a sufiicient quantity for properly banking it out of the mass.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and disclosure.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a plan view of part of the apparatus shown in our said co-pending application, with our present improvements applied to it.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of part of Fig. 1, showing our present improvements applied'thereto. i

Fig. 3 is a separate plan view of our present improvement, the arrows indicating the turning of the material from a transverse stream into a central longitudinal stream.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4, of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by arrow.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 55 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by arrow. i

Fig. 6 is a cross-section on the line 66 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by arrow.

Fig. 7 is an end View of the improvement, looking towards the feed end of the deck.

It is unnecessary for the understanding of our present improvement, to describe the several features shown in F ig. 1, since they are fully described in the co-pending application. Only those parts which are necessary to the understanding of the improvement will be hereinafter referred to.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, 1 is the separating deck of the apparatus, one end of the deck having the Y-shaped arm portions 2, the mass being fed to the deck being separated by the reciprocation of the said table, in the manner set forth in the said application.

By reference to Figure 2 it will be observed that the separating deck 1 is inclined from its feed end 1 to its opposite delivery end 2', and by reference to Figure 1 itwil]. be observed that the rifiies 3 are arranged parallel and that they extend forward and in ward from the feed end towards its delivery end and that the inner ends of these riflies stop to leave a longitudinal extendin unobstructed portion. The object of having the deck inclined as stated is to cause the material to be propelled upward against the incline of the deck whereby the lighter material that rises above the rifiies flows sidewise by grav ity in both directions. This lighter material flows off of the opposite sides of the deck in the manner described in the pending application of applicants Serial No. 530,357 which has been previously referred to herein, while the heavy particles are concentrated in the unobstructed portion of the deck and flow upward therein and pass to the arms 2 of the deck and then the separation is continued on the said arms in the manner described in the aforesaid application. I The separating deck 1 is reciprocated in the manner described in applicants said prior application, which reciprocation propels the heavy particles up the inclination of the deck and propels the lighter particles forward and they finally flowby gravity off the sides of the deck in the manner previously stated. 0

Describing our improvement, in the feeding device, 3 is a pan which extends'transversely of the feed end of the apparatus.

1 For simplicityin the operation of the apparatus, it has been found advisable to deliver theinass of material to be separated to the 'p'rovements is an extension to the pan 3,

table in 'a cross-wise stream equal to the length of the pan. This may be done in any desired manner. One of our present 11nwhich extends inward ioverthe top of the separatingdeck 1, this extension being represnted by separated wingportions 4. The outerend of the wing portions together are sufficiently wide to span the length of the pan 3, inclusive of the longitudinal opening 5. These extensions 4 are substantially triangular in shape so that the two parts 4, in plan view, gradually taper, substantially to a point. These wings or portions 4 are provided with upwardly extending sides 6, the said sides extending throughout the length of each wing as shown.

By reference to the crosssectional views 4' t0v 7 inclusive, it will be observed that the Wings 4 extend inward over the separating deck with a gradually increasing angle. This angle may vary very slightly but we prefer to make the angle beginning with approximately three degrees (Fig. 4) and extending it to forty-five degrees (Fig. 6). As stated these wings are supported above the deck 1, by having their rear edges suitably supported by the apparatus, and their inner ends supported by a suitable Y -shaped bracket '7, which rests upon the deck 1 and has, its ends 8 connected with the ends of the wings 4.

It will be understood that the table with its deck is reciprocated. longitudinally back and forth. In operationthe mass of material to be fed to the table is first delivered to the pan 3 in a stream which extends trans verse the end of the table; The mass passes 4, some of it falling directly into the space 5, whereby all of it is delivered to the center of the separating deck. Owing to the inclination of these wings 4 and the reciprocation of the table, the whole mass moves inward in opposite directions to the space 5, as shown by dotted arrow in Fig.3, the material then falls through'this space directly to the center of the separating de'ck.

v We have foundthat there is an advantage in delivering the whole mass to the center of the feed end of the deck in a line with the movement of the table, instead of feeding it in a cross-line or stream, as is the case in our said co-pending application.

In the operation of a separating deckof the type described in the said application, the heavy elements of the mass are concentrated in'the center of the deck, and we have found By feeding the mass of material into the center of the deck, the heaviest elements are in that way concentrated at the center of the separating deck, and the reciprocation of the table forces the lighter elements laterally in both directions over the riffles 8 of the deck, in order to arrive at the various discharge places at the edges of the deck. Itwill be understood in the said copending application that the very lightest materials are the first that are discharged at the edges of the deck, whereas the elements increasing in weight discharge at various points throughout the length of the table, the heaviest elements being concentrated in the center of the table or deck.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the material is turned from a transverse stream into a stream which is longitudinal the table and at its center. We accomplish this result through the medium of the wings 4, which are shaped and arranged as hereinbefore described.

One of our present improvements on our co-pending application relates to the division wall 9, which is located between the arms 2, which constitute the 'Y of the table. In our application, this wall is made rigid throughout its length.

with the deck, in which posit-ion it equally divides tht stream of material to the two arms 2 of the separating deck. In this position both arms of the deck will produce concentrates, middlings and tailings. These terms are referred to particularly when the device is used for the separation of such ma terial as coal. Sometimes there is an element that it is desired to separate. The said Y-table shown in our application has a banking bar co-operating as a part of the arms 2, which is fully described in the said application. 'lVhen it is desired to separate an element by the banking out method, of which there is not sufficient quantity present to se cure an effective banking out of that element on both sides or arms 2 of the table deck, then the adjustable tip 10 of the central wall or fin 9 can be set to either side of the central line, and thus this heavier element be directed to either side of the deck, thus securing on that side a suflicient quantity of the element for efficient banking. When this is done one arm of the table will produce concentrates,

middlings and tailings, and the other arm will produce only concentrates and middlings. As stated, these terms have reference when the apparatus is used for separating such material as coal.

We wish it to be understood that our present improvements represent the preferred mechanical expression of our invention, but it may be varied so long as it is within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A feeding table having a dry separating deck, and a feeding device located at the feed end of the table and projecting over the separating deck, said feeding device having a longitudinally extending central opening for feeding the material to the center of the feed end of the deck.

2. A dry separating table having a pervious air cushion separating deck, a feeding device projecting over and supported above the feed end only of the said deck, the said feeding device having a longitudinally elongated openin to feed the material to the center of the feed end of the deck.

3. A dry separating table having a pervious air cushion separating deck, a feeding device projecting and supported over the feed end of the deck, said feeding device having a longitudinal opening to feed the material directly to the center of the feed end of said deck. I v

4. A dry separating table having a pervious air cushion separating deck, a feeding device projecting over and supported above the feed end of the said deck, said feeding device having a longitudinal opening located above the center of the feed end of the deck, whereby the material is fed to the center of the feed end of the said deck. 1

5. A separating table having a separating deck, a feeding device projecting over and supported above the feed end of the deck, said feeding device comprising wings separated at their inner'edges to provide an opening for feeding the material to the center of the feed end of the deck.

6. A dry separating table having a pervious air cushion separating deck, a feeding device projecting over the feed end of the deck, said feeding device havinga central longitudinally elongated opening to feed the material to the center of the feed end of the degk, said device tapered towards its inner en 7 A separating table having, a separating deck, a feeding device projecting over the feed end of the deck, said feeding device consisting of wings separated at their inner edge to form an opening for feeding the material to the center of the feed end of the deck, said wings being substantially triangular in shape.

8. A dry separating table having a pervious air cushion separating deck, a feeding device projecting over the feed end of the said deck, said feeding device being inclined from its rear to its inner end and provided with a longitudinally elongated opening for feeding the material to the center of the feed end of said deck.

9. A dry separating table having a pervious air cushion separating deck, a feeding device projecting over the feed end of the deck, said feeding device placed at an angle, the angle gradually increasing from its rear to its inner end, said device having a longitudinally elongated opening for feeding the glitllfllfll to the center of the feed end of said l0. A dry separating table having a pervious air cushion separating deck, a relatively short feeding device over the feed end only of the said deck having a longitudinally elongated opening to feed the material to the center of the feed end of the deck, said device having its edge shaped to form means for holding the material from overflowing.

11. A dry separating table having a pervious air cushion separating deck, a relatively short separating and feeding device projecting over the feed end only of said deck and provided with an opening to feed the material to the center of the feed end of the deck,

said device having an upwardly projecting peripheral flange for holding the material thereon.

12. A separating table having a separating deck, a separating device projecting over the feed end of the deck, said device consisting of wings separated at their rear edges to form an opening for the passage of the material to the center of the feed end of the deck, said wings being substantially triangular in shape having at their outer edges an upwardly projecting flange for holding the material thereon.

13. .A dry separating table having a per-v vious air cushion separating deck, a feed panpmjecting across its feed end, and a feeding device projecting inward from the I a longitudinally elongated central opening for feeding the material to the center of the feed end of the deck.

14. A separating table having a separating deck provided at its feed end with a crosswise feed pan and a feeding device extending from the feed pan over the feed end of the deck, said feeding device having a longitudinal opening for feeding the material to the center of the feed end of the deck, whereby the material is first fed in a stream transverse the deck, which is converted into a stream extending longitudinal the said deck.

15. A separating table having a separat ing deck, a feeding means comprising a feeding device receiving the material in a strean'i transverse the deck and converting it into a stream extending longitudinal of and de positing it at the center of the feed end of the deck, for the purpose described.

16. A separating table having a separating deck, feeding means comprising a transverse pan and feeding means projecting over the deck from the said pan, whereby the material is fed to the pan in a stream transverse the end of the deck which is gradually converted into a feeding stream extending longitudinal the said deck and at the center of the feed end of the said deck.

17. A Y-shaped separating deck having a Wall projecting inwardly between the arms of the Y, the inner end of the said Wall being laterally adjustable for the purpose detable having a Wall projecting inward between the arms of the. Y, the inner end of the said wall pivoted to swing to either side of the said wall, for the purpose described.

20. The combination of a dry separating table having a'pervious air cushion separat ing deck provided with a plurality or rifiies extending forward from opposite sides ofthe deck and stopping short of its central portion thereby leaving an. unobstructed longitudinal central portion, the table being inclined upwardly from the feeding end and adapted for longitudinal reciprocation, and a feeding device located at the lower end of the table adapted to feed material to the unobstructed portion of the deck only, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aflix our signatures.

HENRY M. SUTTON. VALTER LIVINGSTON STEELE EDWIN GOODWIN STEELE. 

